Church Central, April 11, 2017 - Iranian Christians report that the persecution that they endure worsened in 2016, Christian charity Barnabas Aid says.In 2016, there was a steep rise in organized, government-sponsored anti-Christian campaigns on Iranian radio and television, as well as cases of deliberate defamation of well-known Iranian Christians, seemingly intended to portray them as morally and financially corrupt.Barnabas Aid says that there was also a crackdown on Persian (Farsi) speaking (Muslim-background) congregations. Dozens of such house churches were closed, and their members harassed, imprisoned and interrogated. Prayer requestLift up to the Lord our Christian brothers and sisters in Iran, especially those who are converts from Islam.Ask that God will watch over and protect the dozens of church leaders and other believers who have been imprisoned for their faith and face the prospect of torture and long periods in prison without recourse to proper justice.